Da Li Temple - Chapter 23.2
Chapter 23.2
Captured
The servant boy at the side saw the situation and hurriedly said: “The renovation is both inside and outside the building. The windows are locked to avoid accidents if someone opened the windows.”
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After rushing all morning, Lin Wanqing had already walked until her legs and feet were sore and weak. She only wanted to rest and eat quickly, so she didn’t take it seriously. She sat down and poured herself a cup of hot water. Then, she ordered tofu and cabbage soup and sauce-pickled chicken.
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The servant boy smiled and left, not forgetting to close the door on his way out. However, Little White, at her feet, realized something was wrong. It suddenly pricked up its ears and fixed its eyes on the door. After a few low barks rolled through its throat, Little White stood up violently and circled anxiously in the same spot.
Steady footsteps sounded outside the door. Lin Wanqing saw a tall, upright figure imprinted on the window. An ominous premonition surfaced, and before she could think about it, she heard a familiar voice from outside the door.
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“Why are you leaving so soon after your arrival, Recorder Lin?” The voice was cold, low, and vaguely tinged with anger. Her heart suddenly froze and sank downward.
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In the late afternoon, the sun was blazing brightly, and everything seemed to have stood still. Outside the window came the croaking hiss of summer cicadas, like whips lashing the ears.
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When the door opened, a figure wearing a dark-embroidered white robe walked in from behind the half-open diamond-patterned wooden door and came to her unhurriedly. His eyes were as cold as ice as always. He wore a jade crown on his head, his long sleeves trailing to the ground, and a green and white jade belt around his waist, appearing elegant and noble. Such an immortal pose, yet at this time, in the eyes of Lin Wanqing, he was like Shura.
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Surprised, panicked, weak, all kinds of emotions blocked Lin Wanqing’s throat, making her lips and teeth open and closed, but she could not make a sound.
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Su Moyi stared at her and said, “Lin Recorder, where are you going?”
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*
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Under the dim oil lamp, in the damp and musty Da Li Temple’s prison, Lin Wanqing looked at the torture instruments hanging all over the wall and sat peacefully on her knees in a pile of rotten grass mats.
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The well-dressed man on the opposite side was sitting on a chair and was looking at her without moving. The two people’s eyes met for a moment in the dark space.
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It was the first time Su Moyi saw her in women’s clothing. The woman before him had bright eyes, white teeth, red lips, and a rosy face. Even in such a filthy environment, those pair of crystal clear eyes filled with twinkling light made people not forget when they saw her. He then flickered his gaze and dropped his eyes to the top of her hair.
“Who exactly are you?” He asked in a deep voice.
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“Recorder of the Capital Government Office, Lin Wanqing.”
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Su Moyi wrinkled his eyebrows and looked at her coldly, “You disguised yourself as a man to participate in the imperial examinations, forged documents to deceive the Ministry of Officials, and deceived your superiors to be an official in the court. These pieces are big matters that will kill you. You’d better think clearly before answering.”
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Lin Wanqing didn’t care much. After moving the straws in a different direction, she slowly said: “I have loved criminal affairs since childhood. Unfortunately, I was born as a daughter. I only seek an opportunity to show ambition. Why should the Lord make it sound so bad?”
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“You think I will believe you?” Su Moyi sneered.
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“Believing or not, it’s all in your mind.” Lin Wanqing raised her head to look at him, her curly eyelashes lifted like two small butterflies with wings ready to fly.
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Su Moyi’s heart trembled again. He clenched and loosened his large palms hidden under the sleeves before finally landing them on the armrest with a hard slap.
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“Well then, since you don’t want to talk about it, let’s change the subject.” He paused. His eyes forced her to say, “Besides Liang Weiping, your parents know about these things, right? They harbored a crime and did not report it. How is this account going to be settled?”
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Lin Wanqing almost jumped up from the pile of straw from this question.
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What the hell is going on with this dog official? Does he know that the person kneeling before him, apart from being a criminal, is his savior? He didn’t remember the grace of life-saving but also threatened her with her parent’s and best friend’s life! If I knew, I wouldn’t have him back then!
Let him follow those Sheng City’s playboys, hanging out in the brothels, having sex and drunkenness!
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With her anger growing, Lin Wanqing rose from the straws and looked at Su Moyi, “Lord only said about my identity concealment. Then, I ask you, how do you account for the fact that I destroyed my reputation to save you?”
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“Don’t mention that!” A sudden angry shout interrupted Lin Wanqing’s question. This question disintegrated the layer of calmness on Su Moy’s face that he was trying to maintain. His entire face uncontrollably reddened, even the base of his neck.
Is he — annoyed at being poked and prodded?
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Lin Wanqing was stunned, and a forgotten idea surfaced in her mind. The matter of a woman disguising herself as a man and mixing into the officialdom was the Ministry of Officials’ dereliction of duty. Su Moyi did not have evidence to suspect that she entered Da Li Temple to plot against him. Therefore, the real reason for his anger was that he couldn’t accept that a woman took advantage of him, lurking at his side and even running away. This matter for the high and noble Su Moyi was undoubtedly the highest degree of provocation and disgust. Hence, to disintegrate his anger, she must make him realize that this matter was not her responsibility alone.
Lin Wanqing pondered and silently knelt back down again. She would not dare to try in the past. But now this dog official has put a knife to her neck, so she had no other option besides taking the risk and breaking the boat.
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After a short contemplation, Lin Wanqing changed her angry expression to being accused by the evil one. With grievances and sincerity, she spoke: “Peach Blossom Drunk can be relieved after one time of joy, but that night, the Lord didn’t stop ……”
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Su Dog Official: What kind of language is this? My ears! My ears!